Lift bridge



R. W. FINKE April 30, 1940.

LIFT BRIDGE 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1938 INVENTOR fPAl/ H 11/. fi/V/rf ATTORNEY April 30, 1940. I 2,198,810 LIFT BRIDGE Filed March 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR imp/H44 /7/vk mm TTORNEY Patented A r. 30, 1940 r j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE i 2,198,810 i 1/ M LIFT BRIDGE Ralph W. Finke, Olympia, Wash. Application March 16, 1938, Serial No.'196,143

10 Claims. (01. 14-42) i This inventionrelates to improved cable anchorage means for lift bridges or the like.

One of the objects of this invention relates to improved bridge cable anchorage means for use L inlift bridge constructions, though not limited thereto, providing for universal pivotal movement of cable end fittings or sockets with respect to anvanchorage frame, incidental toassembling and operation of a lift bridgewithout causing any bending of the cable at its point of attachment with the socket. 1 i

Other objects of this invention consist in an improved anchorage frame construction, an improved cable connection assembly, an improved mounting for and arrangement of the cable con ,nection assemblies and an improved jacking means therefor, providing for easy removal and replacement of said cablesand for equalizing the :load among the several cables, an improved cable 0 spacingmeans and improved means ,for applying grease to the movable parts. R t

Other objects of the invention willappear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which; 5 Fig. ,1 shows the invention applied to a lift bridge;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view partlyin section of the anchorage frame showing one of the cableconnection assemblies partly in section; 0 Fig. 3 is a view showing; parts in section taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of i a cable connection assemblyand jacking means taken substantially on the same line asuthe sec- ;5 tional view in Fig. 2; j i j Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional View of a cable connection assembly taken substantially on the same line asthe sectionallview in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on in Referring to Fig. 1; A, generally designates an approach; B, a lift bridge section; C, a pier supporting the approach and one cornerof the lift bridge section when lowered; D, a tower; E, a sheave mounted on an axis extending transl versely with respect to the roadway; F,a set of cables which is disclosed as comprising ten cables for each corner of the lift bridge; G, cable connection assemblies; H, cable anchorage frames; and I, a counterweight. In this figure the axis of the sheave and the anchorage frame extend transversely of the bridge. It is to be understood of course that the axis of the sheave and the anchorage frame may extend parallel to bridge or roadway. N0 means has been shown for operating the lift bridge as any suitable mechanism may be used for this purpose. The term, cables include single strands, twisted strands and ropes of any suitable material.

Each set of cables F may consist of ten separate cables arranged in five pairs, each pair being supported on the anchorage frame on a pin or bolt, the bolts being preferably arranged in stepped V-relation as shown in Fig. 2 for purpose of convenience in adjustingthe cables and in providing accessto the cable connection assemblies.

Each cable Ill, Figs. 2 and 3, is' connected to a socket II in any well known manner such as by brooming the end of the cable and applying solder thereto. The socket is provided with a pair of depending arms l2 provided with apertures to receive a pivot pin l3 by means of which it is connected to an anchoring member l4 hereinafter referred to as a shoe. The bearing aper ture in the shoe is preferably provided with a bronze bushing I5 Fig. 6 provided with grooves into which grease may be forced by a forced feed connection l6 asshown in Figs. 2 and 3. The pin I3 may be held in position by cotter pins ll. As shownin Fig. 2 the body of the shoe iSIprO- vided with an elongated slot to receivean anchoring pivotpin 2! supported in the sideplates 22 and 23 of the anchorage frame 1-1. This pin 2| may be held in position by nuts 24 which may be locked in position by, cotter pins 25 as disclosed. The end of the shoe issubstantially rectangular in cross section of greater width than the body portion of the shoe providing seats forshims and also providing flat bearing faces 3! oneof which, when the shoe is assembled on the anchorage frame, will engage one orrthe other of the anchorage plates 22 and 23.

Housed within the slot 20 is a saddle member 32 Figs; 4 and 5 which is preferably provided with a bronze bearing plate 33 provided with flanges 34. overlapping the saddle member 32 as indicated, in Fig. 5 one flange of which engages the adjacent side plate22 or 23and the other flange ofwhich engages an end face of a spacer 35which as shown in Fig. ,3 spaces the saddle members of each pair, the. construction being by bolts as indicated.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the pivotal connection between the shoes and anchorage frame provides for changing converging relation of the cables as the lift bridge is raised and lowered when a sheave provided with closely spaced grooves is used.

For the purpose of maintaining the adjusted tension of the individual cables, U-shaped shims, preferably of slightly less transverse dimension than the transverse dimension of the end 30 of the shoe and having their legs spaced to embrace the reduced body portion of the shoe as shown in the drawings, may be inserted from either side of the shoes between the seats on the lower ends 30 of the shoes and the saddle members 32.

For the purpose of tensioning the cables the lower end 30 of the shoe is provided with inwardly directly oppositely facing projections or shoulders forminga T-shaped socket within which the flanged end of a cylinder M of a hydraulic jack may be engaged as disclosed clearly in Fig. 5. The lower end of this cylinder is closed by a cap 42 which may be provided with a conduit 43 through which fluid under pressure may be admitted into the cylinder to operate a piston M- which has a curved seat bearing on a jack pin 45 extending through an aperture 46 in the lower end 30 of the shoe and bearing on a curved seat 47 in' the lower face of the saddle plate 32. By means of this construction the cables may be adjusted so that each cable may bear its share of the weight This adjustment is maintained by the inserted shims '36. The bronze bearing 33 is preferably provided with grooves as indicated into which grease may be forced by a forced feed connection 48 as indicated in Fig. 4.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the cables change their converging relation in planes which correspond to the views in Figs. 12 and 3 as the anchorage frame moves to and away from the sheave. As stated before, the construction involving the pins 2| and the saddle members 32 permits the sockets I l to accommodate themselves to the change in converging relation of the cables in the plane of Fig. 2.; The pivot pin connections l3 between the sockets I l and the shoes l4 permit change in converging relationof the cables about said pivots as the anchor-age frame moves to and away from the sheave. As a result of the universal connection between the ends of the cables and the anchorage means the latter may be moved close to the sheave without binding permitting the use of a short tower. To maintain asquare bear ing contact between the bearing plates 33 and the pins .2! even though the sockets H change their converging relation in the plane in Fig. 3 to assume that of the connected cables H1, one shoe of which pair of shoes M is provided with a separator block. 50 which is preferably detachably supported thereon by means of a tongue El on the separator block 50 engaging a closed end groove 52 in the side face of the shoe M, the construction being preferably such that the center line of the separator block 50 and the line such that the side faces on the ends 30 of the connecting the centers of the pivot pins l3 co- I incide. The free face of the block is preferably enlarged and is provided with a bronze bearing plate 53 which bears against a flat face on the other shoe of the pair. The construction is such that withdifferences in adjustment of the shoes of each pair a bearing surface is always provided between the bearing plate'53 and the adjacent bearing surface. of the shoe My As disclosed I in these figures the face of the bearing plate 53 may be provided with suitable grooves for receiving and distributing grease which may be forced therein through a forced feed connection 5 shown in Fig. 6. The bearing contact between the plate 53 on one shoe and the flat bearing face on the other shoe facilitates changing convergingrelations of the shoes in the plane of Fig. 2.

As stated before the anchorage frame preferably comprises two side plates 22 and 23 and in order that access may be had to the various cable connection assemblies for the purposes of initially and subsequently tensioning the individual cables and adding or removing shims and for the purpose of applying grease to the saddle members and the pins, the assemblies arcanchored in stepped V-relation. The arrangement when sets of ten cables are used is preferably that disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3Q The cable connection assemblies for each pair are supported in alignment by a single pin 2! and the pins 2| for the five pairs are arranged in stepped V-relation as shown in Fig. 2 so that access may be had to the first three pairs from the left of Fig. 2, for example, from the left side of the anchorage frame and access to the two pairs on the right hand side from the right hand side of the frame.

For the purpose of strengthening this frame construction the outer faces of the side plates 22 and 23 may be provided with ribs 6% welded thereto and which are preferably disposed asshown more particularly in Fig. 2 in line with the pins 2| and extend preferably close to the lower end of the side plates where they overlap and are welded to reinforcing plates 6! which may be riveted or spot welded to the plates 22 and 23. The plates 6| reinforce the portion of the frame in which are mounted anchorage frame anchoring bolts 62 secured in position by nuts 63 which bolts constitute anchoring means for links or the like, not disclosed, by means of which the anchorage frame may be connected to the lift bridge section and to the counter-weight, in any suitable manner. The, center rib 6!] is interrupted at the center pivot pin 2|. A transversely extending rib may reinforce. each side plate between the outside pins 2|. The side plates may also be reinforced by a cross plate 64 and angle plate as as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

By means of the hydraulic jack, the load among theseveral cables maybe equalized by providing for an actual measurement of the load on each cable. This may be accomplished by a pressure gage or pressure indicating scale on the hydraulic jack or by thepressure indicator usually associated with the fluid pressure source.

Provision has been made for adjusting the cables by adding or taking out shims in case the cables stretch unequally. This adjustment can be made very easily and quickly and eliminates the necessity for equalizers formerly used on lift bridge cables. This feature is the principaldifa ference between lift bridge anchorages and the erectionand under the low tension induced by cablesin tenoab1eassemb1y would be' overloaded by approximately butunder the static con- 1 ditionsofth adQ no distress would result. By using two pins B z-instead of oneas in a other constructions, such replacementscan be, made without ,disturbingpr altering theposition of the anchorage frame with respect to the section of the bridge to which it is anchored so that the stresses on the remaining cables will be, equally distributed. l a

@Each set of cables F ma'yxconsist of ten separate cables arranged in five pairs as disclosed.

Without any change except inthe size of the anchorage frame any even number of cables may be used which may constitute an even or an uneven number of pairs of cables. When there is an uneven number of pairs of cables, they willbearranged in the stepped V-relation shown.

When there is an even pair of cables, they will be arranged in stepped V-relation with two pairs of the cables at the apex of theV. By means of this arrangement the mounting and adjustment of the connection assemblies will be, facilitated as well asservicing, replacement, etc. The connection assemblies are readily accessible so that or for replacement, by removal of the. spacer 35. While the inventionhas been described with particularity as to the various elements depicted and has been described in connection with a lift bridge construction, it is to be understood that the specific description of the invention has been I made merely for the purposes of disclosureand is notto, be considered as limitative or illustrative as it is obvious that various of thefeatures could be changed without departing from the spirit of the invention and that there are various other uses to which some or all of the features wouldxbe applicable.

I claim:

The combination with an anchorage frame comprising spaced parallel plates, of a series of cable end fittings located between said plates, and pivot bolts extending through said plates and supporting said end fittings, said pivot bolts being arranged in a series extending from one side of the frame tothe other in the form of a V with the apex of the V extending toward the rear end of the frame whereby said end fittings are accessible from the side edges of theframe.

i 2. The combination with an anchorage frame comprising spaced parallel plates, of a plurality of separate cables, end fittings on said cables and means for supporting said endfittings between andon said plates, saidmeans being arranged l i in a series extending from one side edge of the frame to the other in the form of a V with the apex of the V extending toward the rear end of the frame whereby said end fittings areac- ,cessible from the side edgesof the frame.

3.The combination with an anchorage frame comprising spaced parallel plates, of a plurality of separate cables} end fittings on said cables having longitudinally extending pivot rod receiving slots, pivot rodssupported on said side plates and extending through said slots, bearing a members withinsaid slots, and shims between said bearing member'sand one end, of said slots, said pivotrods being arranged in'a series ex tending lfrom one side edge of the frame to the I other in the' formof a narrow V with the apex of the V extending toward the rear end ofthe frame whereby said end fittings and shims are accessible from the side edge of the frame nearest thereto. i

4. The combination; with an anchorage frame comprising spaced parallel side plates, of a plurality of'pairs of separate cables,individual end fittings for saidcableshaving longitudinally extending pivot rod receiving slots, pivot rods supported on said plates andfextendingthrough said slots, individual bearingj-membersin said slots, the end fittings of each pair of end fittings being of the frame to theother inthe form of a narrow V with the apex of the V extending toward the rear end of the frame whereby said end fittings, shims, bearing membersand spacers are accessible from the side edges of the frame.

5. An anchoring frame comprising spaced plates, a pair of cables arranged transversely of said plates, end fittings on said cables provided with longitudinally extending slots, a pivot bolt 1 extending through said plates and through said additional shims may be inserted or removed and, the bearing members may be removed for repair slots, bearing members within said slots located between one end of said slots andsaid pivot bolt, and a spacer secured to said pivot bolt between L said bearing members havinga bearing engages ment with said bearing members and holding said pivot rod, and movably engaging spacing means on said end fittings in the region forwardly of the connection between said end fittings and said pivot rod.

v. The combination in a lift bridge construction of a tower, lift bridge section, sheave, counter-weight and cables passing over the sheave connecting the counter-weightto the lift bridge section, said cables being arranged in pairs spaced closely longitudinally of the axis of the sheave with the cables of the respective pairs closely spaced and lying in planes extending transversely ofthe axis of said sheave, and pivotal connections between the ends of the cables of each pair of cables and th-e counter-weight and lift bridge section providing for changing converging relation of the cables of each pair of cables in their common plane as the lift bridge section and counter-weight approach and recede from the sheave. 3 l

8. The combination in a lift bridgeconstruction of a tower, lift bridgesection, sheave, counter-weight and cables passing over the sheave connecting the counter-weight to the lift bridge section, said cables being arranged in pairs spaced closely longitudinally of the axis of the sheave with the cables of the respectivepairs closely spaced and lying in planes extending transversely tions between the ends of the cables ofveach pair of cables and the counter-weight and lift bridge section providingfor changing. converging relation of the cables of' each pair of cablesin their 1 common plane and in the-planes of the correspending cables of allof the pairs of cables as the lift bridge section and" counter-weight ap-.

proach and recede from the sheave.

9. The combination with an anchorage frame comprisingspac'ed plates, an anchoring pin extending transversely of said plates, a cable, an end fitting connected to said cable and provided with a slot receiving said pin, a saddle plate in said slot bearing against said pin, and a jack cylinder engaging *means on the end of said fitting, the end of said (fitting having an. axial bore through which a jack pin may extend into contact with said saddlB plate.

10; The combination with an anchorage frame comprising spaced plates, an anchoring pi-n extact with-said saddle plate, and U-shaped shims straddling-said .shoe and adapted to be inserted from either side of said'end fitting, the space between the legs of said shims being in alinement with the axial bore through the end of said end fitting and receiving said jack pin.

RALPH W. 

